India Adds 1,167 Training Centers & 926 ITIs/NSTIs For RE Skilling

India Adds 1,167 Training Centers & 926 ITIs/NSTIs For RE Skilling

The latest data shared by the Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Yesso Naik revealed that 1,167 training centers/institutes and approximately 926 ITIs/NSTIs are currently operational, along with centers affiliated with the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), to facilitate renewable energy skilling and training. Out of these, 903 ITIs/NSTIs are spread across India, while 1,167 centers are affiliated through the Skill India Digital Portal. Additionally, 23 centers are associated with NIESBUD for specialized training in renewable energy.

The data found that Karnataka has the highest concentration of training centers, with 183 out of 903 ITIs/NSTIs located in the state. Among the 1,167 Skill India-affiliated centers with Uttar Pradesh hosting the most numbers of training centers (274), a significant number are situated in Madhya Pradesh (135 centers), Rajasthan (156 centers) and Jammu & Kashmir (111 centers), making these regions key hubs for renewable energy skill development.

Renewable Energy Training Centers

However, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, the Minister clarified that no new proposals have been received by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for establishing additional renewable energy training institutes.

Renewable Energy Job Creation

The minister stated in response, “Addressing job creation in the renewable energy sector over the past five years, the Minister cited studies conducted by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) in July 2019 and the Co-benefits Study by TERI in October 2019. These reports estimated Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) job creation across various renewable energy segments. The data indicates that rooftop solar projects generate 24.72 jobs per MW per year, while utility-scale ground-mounted solar projects create 3.45 jobs per MW per year.”

He further elaborated, “Similarly, biomass power projects contribute 16.24 jobs per MW per year, small hydro projects generate 13.84 jobs per MW per year, and large hydro projects account for 2.65 jobs per MW per year. Based on these estimates, approximately 6.65 lakh jobs have been created in the renewable energy sector between 2020-21 and February 2025, with solar energy contributing the highest share of about 6.22 lakh jobs.”

Government and Private Renewable Energy Training Institutes

To strengthen skill development in renewable energy, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has been implementing various training programs across sectors like solar, wind, bioenergy, and small hydro power. Several specialized institutions spearhead these efforts, including the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gurugram, the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) in Chennai, the National Institute of Bio Energy (NIBE) in Kapurthala, and the Hydro and Renewable Energy Department (HRED) at IIT Roorkee. Additionally, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) supports skill training through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), and the Directorate General of Training (DGT), operating through National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

Apart from government-backed initiatives, private organizations like the Tata Power Skill Development Institute (TPSDI) have also been playing a crucial role in imparting training in solar, wind, and hydrogen energy. These collective efforts aim to bridge the skill gap in India’s growing renewable energy sector, fostering employment opportunities and driving sustainable energy adoption.